Firefighters quickly knocked down a three-alarm fire at 962 Main St. this afternoon, stopping it from reaching the upholstery shop and contractor business in the basement at the front of the building and acetylene and propane tanks stored at the back of the large complex.

When firefighters arrived, there was a large black plume coming from the rear of the building used for storage, Fire Chief Kevin D. Roy said, and flames were traveling along large wooden beams of the 1800s building.

The building's owner, 86-year-old William H. Fisher, who owns Littlehale and Fisher Contractors, said he was attempting to put out an engine fire in his red 1985 Chevy pickup with fire extinguishers, but fuel somehow leaking from the engine spread the fire until it was out of control.

Off-duty Fire Capt. Tad Dateo who was driving by and saw smoke, called 911 and tried to help Mr. Fisher get it under control with fire extinguishers.

Firefighters pulled water lines through a catwalk connecting the storage area in the back to the rest of the building to fight the blaze.

“They were able to knock it down in 30 minutes,” Chief Roy said. “It is four large buildings that could have easily went up, but they contained it quickly.”

The Boulder Art Gallery next door at 960 Main St. was not damaged in the fire.

Jeanne M. Gauthier -- who for 25 years has rented space in the front of the building for her business, The Recovery Room upholstery shop, specializing in antiques -- said memories from a fire seven years ago in the same building rushed back at her when she saw the fire. In that fire, the apartment she was renting above the upholstery shop was destroyed.

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